What If Age of Empires Had a Baby With Jurassic Park?
Every now and then, a game comes along with a premise so brilliantly bonkers you have to stop and applaud the sheer creativity. DinoLords is one of those games. For anyone who ever watched The Lord of the Rings and thought, “This is great, but it could use a few raptors,” this game is for you. A new explainer trailer just dropped, giving us a closer look at this wild mashup of real-time strategy, city-building, and third-person action, all set in a version of medieval England where the Viking invaders have traded their longships for Triceratops.
So, What Exactly IS DinoLords?
At its heart, DinoLords is a strategy game, but it’s not content to sit in one box. It’s blending genres to create something new. Imagine you’re playing a classic RTS like Age of Empires. You’re gathering resources, building up your settlement, and training an army. You construct walls, towers, and barracks to defend your people. That’s the first layer. The second layer is a tower defense game. The enemy-in this case, dinosaur-riding Danes-will attack your base in waves, and you have to command your troops to hold the line.
But here’s the killer twist: when the battle starts, you can jump directly into the fight yourself. The game seamlessly shifts into a third-person action RPG. You take control of your hero, Lord of the castle, fighting on the front lines with a sword and bow right alongside the soldiers you trained. It’s a game that asks you to be both a brilliant general and a heroic warrior.
An Alternate History With Bite
The lore is just as ambitious as the gameplay. The story kicks off in 985 AD when Eric the Red, on a voyage to Greenland, discovers ancient eggs frozen in a glacier. When they hatch, the Vikings realize they’ve stumbled upon a game-changing weapon: dinosaurs. Fast forward to 1002, and King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark launches a full-scale invasion of England, shocking the defenders with his dinosaur-powered army. You play as the English Prince Edmund Ironside, tasked with the seemingly impossible mission of defending your kingdom, learning the secrets of these great beasts, and ultimately turning them against their masters.
Build, Command, and Ride a T-Rex
The gameplay is built on three core pillars: building your stronghold, commanding your forces, and fighting in epic battles. You’ll start by gathering wood, stone, and other resources to build a thriving settlement. As you attract more villagers, you can automate production and construct specialist buildings to keep your population happy and ready for war. When the Danes attack, you’ll man the ramparts, strategically positioning your archers and foot soldiers. Then, you’ll leap into the fray yourself, fighting off enemies and their prehistoric mounts. And yes, the ultimate goal is to tame and breed your own dinosaurs, creating a new kind of warrior to turn the tide of the war.
FAQs About DinoLords
What kind of game is DinoLords?
DinoLords is a real-time strategy (RTS) game that blends elements of city-building, tower defense, and third-person action RPG combat.
What’s the story about?
It’s an alternate history where Vikings discover dinosaurs and use them to invade medieval England. You play as the English prince leading the defense.
Can you control a character directly?
Yes. You can switch from a top-down strategic view to a third-person action view to control your main character directly in battle.
Do you get to use dinosaurs too?
Absolutely. A key part of the game is learning how to tame, breed, and command your own dinosaurs to fight back against the invaders.
What games is it similar to?
Think of it as a mix between the base-building of Age of Empires, the siege battles of Stronghold, and the action-strategy of a game like Mount & Blade, but with dinosaurs.
When can I play it?
There is no official release date yet, but the developers are running a closed alpha. You can sign up for a chance to play on the game’s Steam page.
Conclusion
In a world of safe sequels and predictable formulas, DinoLords is a breath of fresh, prehistoric air. It’s a bold, ambitious, and gloriously weird idea that has gamers buzzing with excitement. While early gameplay footage shows a project still in development, the core concept is so strong that it’s easy to root for. The developers at Northplay are swinging for the fences, and if they can pull it off, DinoLords could be one of the most unique and memorable strategy games in years. We’ll be eagerly waiting to see if the final product lives up to its epic and insane premise.